Salad Dressings for Weight Loss
It's no secret that a salad's primary ingredients are low-cal. That's why many of us don't feel guilty drizzling our greens with less-than-virtuous dressings—even when we're trying to lose weight.
In fact, most of us wouldn't be able to stomach as many of the salads we shovel down in the name of weight loss if it weren't for the dressing! But using the wrong variety (typically those filled with cheap oils and chemicals) can be hard on your health and waistline.
To help you stay in love with your lettuce—without packing on the pounds—Eat This, Not That! scoured supermarket shelves to bring you the tastiest healthy salad dressings we could find. All our picks come in at 80 calories or less per serving and are free of diet-derailing additives and ingredients—a rarity in the dressing aisle. Whether you're looking for something savory or prefer a dressing on the sweeter side, we've got something you're sure to enjoy.
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Newman's Own Lite Low Fat Sesame Ginger, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 35 |
| Fat | 1.5 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 330 mg |
| Carbs | 5 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
Newman relegates oil to a supporting role so that vinegar, soy sauce, and ginger can drive the flavor of this dressing. Though this bottle can be mixed in with just about any bed of greens, it really complements Asian-inspired salads that call for ingredients like mandarin oranges, sugar snap peas, and almonds.
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Annie's Naturals Lite Honey Mustard Vinaigrette, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 40 |
| Fat | 3 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 125 mg |
| Carbs | 4 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
Mustard, a condiment filed with metabolism-revving phytochemicals, is the main ingredient after water in this lightened-up take on standard honey mustard–a rarity for the classic creamy dressing. This salad topper adds a tangy, slightly sweet flavor to greens and can also be used as a grilled chicken marinade.
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Bolthouse Farms Creamy Basil Greek Yogurt Dressing, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 40 |
| Fat | 2.5 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 260 mg |
| Carbs | 2 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
Bolthouse Farms casts Greek yogurt as the star ingredient of this dressing while basil and shallots take on (delicious and robust) supporting roles. Its protein, calcium, and gut-healthy probiotic bacteria content are a bonus.
Annie's Naturals Lite Raspberry Vinaigrette, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 40 |
| Fat | 3 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 55 mg |
| Carbs | 4 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
Apple cider vinegar has been shown to lower cholesterol and boost weight loss, and it's one of the primary ingredients in this low-cal dressing. Pair it with spinach, berries, pecans, and goat cheese to create a light summer salad, or add a splash over grilled wild salmon in place of standard cream-based sauces for a fruity hit of flavor that won't leave you feeling bloated.
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Cucina Antica Organic Caesar Dressing, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 80 |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Sodium | 190 mg |
| Carbs | 1 g |
| Sugar | less than 1 g |
Cucina Antica uses Romano cheese–not an excess of cheap oil–to supply their dressing with a rich flavor for a fraction of the calories. This bottle has just enough fat to help your body absorb important vitamins from your plate of vegetables, but not so much that it counteracts your healthy salad selection.
Bolthouse Farms Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 30 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 150 mg |
| Carbs | 6 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
With a mere 30 calories per serving, this is one of the lightest vinaigrettes we've ever come across that doesn't sacrifice flavor. In fact, similar bottles we found had three times the calories and nine times the fat! Just another reason why Bolthouse is one of our favorite dressing producers.
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Kraft Roasted Red Pepper Italian with Parmesan, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 40 |
| Fat | 2 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 349 mg |
| Carbs | 4 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
The majority of this bottle is filled with vinegar and tomato puree (rich in cancer-fighting lycopene), a huge improvement over the typical oil-based formula. Use it to dress up pasta, bean, and Caprese salads, or use it as a veggie kabob marinade.
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Cindy's Kitchen Mango Coconut & Pepper, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 40 |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 0 mg |
| Carbs | 10 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
Mango puree joins dried coconut, apple cider vinegar, and habanero pepper to create a unique sweet and spicy dressing that will transport your taste buds to the tropics. But that's not all: The capsaicin in hot peppers has been shown to suppress appetite and boost the body's ability to burn fat.
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Annie's Naturals Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette, 2 Tbsp
| Calories | 60 |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 240 mg |
| Carbs | 3 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
Roasted red peppers and apple cider vinegar make up the bulk of the bottle. The result is a robust, flavorful dressing that's easy on the waistline.
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